Uxbridge headed down to leafy Surrey on Saturday for a trip to the runaway league leaders Farnham Town - looking to avenge the heavy 5-0 defeat inflicted on the Reds at Honeycroft in the reverse fixture back in November. The match saw a few changes to last week's line up against South Park, with Casey Bocarro slotting into the defence in the absence of suspended skipper CJ Fearn. George Moore made a welcome return to the starting lineup, also making their comebacks after injury were Toby Nnadozie & Luke Paris - who both started on the bench.
In front of a bumper crowd of 676 and with the spring sunshine beating down, Uxbridge made a lively start seeing plenty of the ball - but the well organised Farnham defence kept out any real threat. The home side got their first real chance on 8 minutes when the dangerous Great Evans did well to beat a couple of challenges and he squared to Sam De St Croix, whose shot would have really tested George Legg if not for a great last ditch block from Josh Addae. The game then settled down with neither side able to create any chances of note. In fact, when the opening goal did arrive on 21 minutes it was something of a wake up call. A free kick was floated into the box, and evaded everyone, only for Jack Dean to nip in at the back post between Josh Addae and Legg and head the home side into the lead. George Moore was providing a good outlet up front for Uxbridge, and it was he who worked a couple of good openings, but was unable to seriously test Oualah in the Farnham goal. In fact it was Farnham who struck next on the half hour when the ball fell to De St Croix on the edge of the box, whose dipping shot bounced awkwardly in front of Legg, who was only able to parry the ball into the path of Evans, who made no mistake in doubling the lead. Uxbridge heads didn't drop though, and they were handed a lifeline 5 minutes later, as Addae’s throw into the box saw Dernell Wynter rise highest in the box, and his goalbound header was turned into his own net by Ryan Kinnane. Just before the half ended Wynter again made his presence felt in the box, but he was unable to keep his header down, and Farnham held the slim advantage at the break.
HT 1-2
The home side came out all guns firing in the second half, and could easily have grabbed a third just 2 minutes in as Harry Cooksley's corner was met well by Ben Purcell whose header was parried by Legg, and then cleared off the line by Hobbs in the resultant scramble. On 49 minutes Legg was called into action again as the lively De St Croix who tried to pick out the top corner from the edge of the box and forced Legg into an excellent full length save. After the initial pressure Uxbridge came more into the game and came close to an equaliser mid way through the half, Moore played in Massimo Giamattei on the right hand side of the box, and his low cross was spilt by Oualah, the ball rolling along the goalline only to be cleared by the defender before anyone in a blue shirt could get to it. On 62 minutes Jack Dean forced another save from Legg as he again ghosted in at the back post with a header, this time Uxbridge held firm though. On 80 minutes an odd situation, where Oualah was about to take a goal kick, he then dropped the ball and regathered it - resulting in an indirect free kick inside the penalty box, Moore crashed the shot into the defenders and away for a corner however and Farnham survived. The Reds continued to make chances though as Fabio Sole found space in the box, and his low fizzing shot was just turned over the bar by Oualah who was fortunate not to turn the ball into his own net. With 90 minutes up Uxbridge so nearly grabbed an equaliser, as substitute Ada Okorogheye did superbly well on the left wing his cross found Hobbs in space, but his header was parried and looped agonisingly past the far post with the defenders wrong footed. It was the last action of any note, and Uxbridge will feel they could have taken something from this game, and will go into another tricky trip to Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday night with positive vibes.
FT 1-2
Att 676
Match Gallery here (courtesy Michael Bodman)
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